Updated November 2026 · 106 CIMA packages · How the data works
What CIMA (Chartered Management Accountant, CGMA) holders in UK finance actually earn, from packages they shared anonymously. Newly qualified, the median is £53,000. At the top, the median CIMA qualified Chief Financial Officer earns £180,000.
| Role | CIMA median | Middle half | All qualifications | CIMA packages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Financial Officer | £180,000 | £125k to £205k | £165,000 | 19 |
| Group Finance Director | £140,000 | n/a | £135,000 | 6 |
| Finance Director | £114,000 | £100k to £153k | £115,000 | 25 |
| Head of Finance | £85,000 | n/a | £100,000 | 7 |
| Financial Controller | £90,000 | £81k to £95k | £82,000 | 10 |
| Finance Manager | £71,000 | n/a | £66,000 | 8 |
| Management Accountant | £46,000 | n/a | £46,000 | 9 |
| Commercial Finance Director | £165,000 | n/a | £150,000 | 7 |
Permanent roles, base salary. Roles with fewer than 5 CIMA packages are not shown; ranges need 10. Differences between qualifications in the same role also reflect sector, company size and location, so treat them as context, not as the value of the qualification itself.
Across all roles. Years since qualifying moves with seniority, so read this alongside the role table.
| Median base | Middle half | Total package | Packages | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newly qualified (0 to 2 years) | £53,000 | £45k to £67k | £60,000 | 19 |
| 3 to 5 years | £77,000 | n/a | £87,000 | 7 |
| 6 to 10 years | £100,000 | £78k to £120k | £118,000 | 19 |
| 11 to 15 years | £140,000 | £110k to £160k | £158,000 | 25 |
| 16+ years | £120,000 | £92k to £170k | £167,000 | 35 |
The median base salary across all 106 CIMA qualified finance professionals in The Finance Pay Index is £100,000. That mixes every level from newly qualified to CFO, so the figure for your role or years since qualifying, below, is more useful.
CIMA holders who qualified in the last two years earn a median base salary of £53,000, with the middle half between £45,000 and £67,000, from 19 packages.
Median base salary by years since qualifying: 0 to 2 years: £53,000; 3 to 5 years: £77,000; 6 to 10 years: £100,000; 11 to 15 years: £140,000; 16+ years: £120,000. Most of the growth comes from moving up a level, so compare by role as well.
The median CIMA qualified Chief Financial Officer earns £180,000 base, from 19 packages. Every Chief Financial Officer in the index, whatever their qualification, has a median of £165,000.
From permanent UK packages shared anonymously with The Finance Pay Index. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000, a figure needs at least 5 people and a range at least 10.
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